Shelf bracket tool

ABSTRACT

Shelf brackets typically have a series of downwardly hooked teeth which engage in slots in a supporting channel. The tool is a lever having at one end a dovetail for engaging into a channel slot above the bracket, near which dovetail is pivoted a dependant link engagable against a shelf bracket top for forcing the shelf teeth into the channel slots. At the other end of the lever is a projection engagable in a channel slot beneath the bracket, and a lever arm for engaging the bracket for prying the bracket teeth out of the channel slots.

United States Patent D Amato [54] SHELF BRACKET TOOL [72] Inventor: Paul R. DAmato, 1210 East Main Street, Waukesha, Wis. 53186 [22] Filed: Feb. 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 117,621

[52] 0.8. CI ..29/267, 254/131 [51 1 Int. Cl. ..B23p 19/04 [51%| l-leld 0| Search ..29/244, 267, 245, 200 H; 254/131. 130,129

156] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 727,284 5/1903 Cahill ..254/ 130 X l 971,884 8/1934 Tyroff ..254/130 2,108,197 2/1938 Du Sang ..29/245 Oct. 24, 1972 Primary Examiner-Robert C. Riordon Assistant Examiner-J. C. Peters Attorney-James H. Littlepage [57] ABSTRACT Shelf brackets typically have a series of downwardly hooked teeth which engage in slots in a supporting channel. The tool is a lever having at one end a dovetail for engaging into a channel slot above the bracket, near which dovetail is pivoted a dependant link engagable against a shelf bracket top for forcing the shelf teeth into the channel slots. At the other end of the lever is a projection engagable in a channel slot beneath the bracket, and a lever arm for engaging the bracket for prying the bracket teeth out of the channel slots.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEflum 24 I972 lNVENTOR PAUL R D'A NATO SHELF BRACKET TOOL FIELD OF INVENTION Pushing And Pulling Implements, Single Throw Lever, Special Engaging Feature PRIOR ART Tyroff 1,960,255

OBJECTS Typical adjustable shelf supports, such as commonly used in stores, includes a generally right triangular bracket formed of sheet metal, the altitude side of the triangle being horizontally disposed for supporting a shelf, and the base side of the triangle being vertically disposed and provided with a series of downwardly hooked teeth which engage in vertical slots in a channel secured to a wall. The teeth on the bracket are so dimensioned and formed as to provide a jamb fit over the metal between the slots in the channel, thus making it necessary to use considerable force in either installing or removing the bracket. Usually this force is applied by hammering, which may knock the paint off or otherwise disfigure the bracket. The object now is to provide a simple tool, one end of which can be inserted in a channel slot above a bracket for levering the bracket downwardly so as to seat the teeth firmly in the slots and the other end of which can be inserted in a channel slot below the bracket for prying the bracket upwardly so that the bracket can be easily removed from the channel.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following specification and drawing, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the tool;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation showing use of the tool in levering a bracket so that its teeth engage tightly over the metal between slots in a channel; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevation showing use of the tool for prying bracket teeth out of the channel slots.

Referring now to the drawing in which like reference numerals denote similar elements, tool 2 consists in an elongate flat lever 4 having a dovetail shaped end 6 connected to the main body of the lever by a neck 7, with inclined edges 8 diverging from the neck and terminating in tips 10.

Near neck 7 is connected a link 12 by means of a pivot 14, the free end of the link 12 terminating in a flat end 16 which lies in a plane at right angles to the length of lever 4.

At the other end of lever 4 is a half dovetail shape end 18 joined to the main body of the lever by a neck 19, there being an inclined edge 20 running out from neck 19 and terminating in a tip 22. Opposite tip 22 is a flat end 24 which has been twisted as indicated at 26 so as to lie in a plane at right angles to the length of lever 4.

FIG. 2 illustrates typical usage of the tool for installing a shelf bracket 28 onto a channel 40. Conventionally, a shelf bracket such as indicated at 28 is generally right triangular wherein the altitude side 30 of the triangle extends horizontally outwardly from channel 40 and is adapted to support a shelf (not shown). The base side 32 of the bracket lies against channel 40 and has a series of teeth 34 with down rdl h oked ends 36 rated fro th body t the br cket by means r af l iort slots Cha n i 40 is usually secured against the wall and has one or more vertical rows of vertically elongate slots 42 separated by the metal 44 which lies therebetween. When bracket 28 is installed, teeth 34 are pushed into slots 42 and then the top was formerly hammered downwardly so as to jamb the hooked ends 36 of the teeth firmly behind the metal 44 between slots 42. Such hammering is avoided by use of the subject tool. The dovetail shape end 6 is engaged with channel 40 by inserting a tip 10 in a channel slot so that the inclined edge 8 hooks against the top edge of a slot spaced above the location of the bracket. Flat end 16 of link 12 engages against the top edge of the shelf bracket near the base of the topmost tooth 34 and by swinging the then free end 18 of lever 4 downwardly the shelf bracket 28 is forced downwardly so as to seat the hooked ends 36 of teeth 34 firmly behind the inter-slot metal 44.

FIG. 3 illustrates use of the tool for freeing shelf bracket 28 from channel 40. In this case, half dovetailshape end 18 of the tool is used. Tip 22 is inserted into a shelf bracket slot 42 so that the inclined edge 20 hooks against the top edge of a channel slot, which slot is below the shelf bracket. Flat end 24 engages against the bottom edge of the shelf bracket so that when the then free end 6 of the tool is swung upwardly, the shelf bracket is pried so that the hooked ends 36 of teeth 34 are slid upwardly and are thereby freed from their engagement behind the metal 44 lying between the channel slots.

Iclaim: l. A tool for forcing a shelf bracket relative to a supporting channel, wherein the shelf bracket has a row of teeth insertable through a row of slots in the channel, said teeth having hooked ends for engaging behind the material of the channel between the slots, said tool comprising a single throw lever comprising an elongate flat body having on one end thereof a dovetail-shape member joined thereto by a neck for hooking into a channel slot,

and a link pivoted to said body adjacent said neck,

said link having a free end portion adapted to engage against a shelf bracket for forcing the same longitudinally of the channel, the free end portion of said link being generally flat and disposed in a plane at right angles to the plane of the lever body.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1, said lever body having on the other end of the body thereof another member joined thereto by another neck, said other member being comprised of a pointed portion for engaging into a channel slot, and a flat portion disposed at right angles to the plane of the lever body for engaging against a shelf. 

1. A tool for forcing a shelf bracket relative to a supporting channel, wherein the shelf bracket has a row of teeth insertable through a row of slots in the channel, said teeth having hooked ends for engaging behind the material of the channel between the slots, said tool comprising a single throw lever comprising an elongate flat body having on one end thereof a dovetail-shape member joined thereto by a neck for hooking into a channel slot, and a link pivoted to said body adjacent said neck, said link having a free end portion adapted to engage against a shelf bracket for forcing the same longitudinally of the channel, the free end portion of said link being generally flat and disposed in a plane at right angles to the plane of the lever body.
 2. The combination claimed in claim 1, said lever body having on the other end of the body thereof another member joined thereto by another neck, said other member being comprised of a pointed portion for engaging into a channel slot, and a flat portion disposed at right angles to the plane of the lever body for engaging against a shelf. 